A stiff breeze in the early morning rolls a Hoopfest banner that frames a court at Monroe and Sprague. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Looking east on Sprague shows just one of a dozen downtown Spokane streets full of basketball competitors. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Chain fencing and banners block off most of downtown. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Sunrise peeks it’s way west on Sprague Saturday and Hoopfest teams are already out on the courts warming up for two days of 3 on 3 competition. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
The team “Richard Simmons 4 ” sports the retro shorts as they head out for their first game. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Tens of thousands of fans and players crowd downtown. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Crowds lined every store front and steps all over downtown Spokane. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Lori Perez of Spokane captures some video of her nephew Devin Perez at his first game of Hoopfest 2011. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
It wasn’t all about hoops Saturday June 25, 2011 in downtown Spokane, Wash. These two young men enjoyed getting their photos taken with young ladies in swimsuits on Spokane Falls Blvd. They preferred not to give names. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Hoopfest brings out the best in basketball skills and hairstyles as shown by this young player on Riverside Avenue. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Ben Stevens of Spokane goes with a retro look as he warms up for a game on Riverside. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
The Blue Ballin’ Barracudas from Seattle dropped their first Hoopfest game so they decided that those who come and play should also sit and eat. From left are Jeff Caldwell, Michael May, Sam LaFavor and Jordan Devos. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Curtis Butler leaps over a seated Tommy Boyer-Kendrick as they give a workshop of basketball skills. They are from Rockwood Performance of Spokane. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Marcus Clift of Strokesville gets a drive to the basket past the defense of Drew Goranson of T-Cups Saturday June 25, 2011. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Marcus Clift, formerly of Ferris High School fame, is surrounded by the defense of the T-Cups during their Hoopfest game. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Bodies bang and fall everywhere during a morning game. From left are Taylor Roos, Marcus Clift, Drew Goranson and Dustin Beach. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Eric Beal drives through the T-Cup team to score. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Eric Beal , center, of Strokesville drives between Taylor Roos and Drew Goranson of T-Cups Saturday June 25, 2011. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Trent Roos of Salem Oregon chases the ball and his shadow. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Downtown Spokane looking east from Monroe and Riverside is one giant basketball crowd for Hoopfest 2011 (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Downtown Spokane is filled with Hoopfest players and fans for the nation’s largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Christian Wright , right, of “The Kitten Lovers” waits for his game on Main Avenue. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Clash of styles is not unusual for Hoopfest. The shorts of “Richard Simmons 4 ” clash with a more modern look at right. Boxers or briefs, Ginger or Maryann, the debate will go on forever. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Hoopfest 2011 started off with cooler weather as Colton Poplawski, left, and Payton Miller try to stay warm on Riverside Avenue. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Sometimes it is more than just basketball during Hoopfest. Two hoop fans check the cell phone camera to make sure the photo of the swimsuit models is preserved. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Joel Ryman, right, looks for an opening to drive during his game as a member of team No Ceilings. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Holly Tyler, left, of Acme Concrete controls a rebound during their game against Western. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Mandy Morales of Acme Concrete turns to the hoop for a drive and score. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Former Gonzaga University player Andrew Sorensen turns to slap hands with a No Ceilings teammate. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
A very tired Randy Harkey of Soul Sonic Funk (Spokane) wipes his face after a long day on the basketball court, Sat., June 25, 2011. He plays in the 50 year and older division. J. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Former Ferris and Denver University star Eric Benzel scores two for the two-time defending 6’ and over champions Team Tonix in their victory against Crew Ring a Rang. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
The action between We Pound Pavement and The Little Nuggets was up close and personal in Bracket 304. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Former Gonzaga teammates Austin Daye and David Pendergraft were the Nike Center Court Saturday. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Earl Hallman, 52, is all smiles as he gets helped from the hot pavement by his opponents. The Spokane man plays for Soul Sonic Funk. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Former GU star David Pendergraft of the two-time defending 6’ and older Team Tonix drives hard to the basket in a victory against Crew Ring a Rang. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Looking north on Post Street from River Park Square, thousands of Hoopfest players and spectators jammed downtown Spokane. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Khinh La of Kirkland does pullups as Marine Corp. recruit Jason Wilkinson of Spokane counts. The US Marines sponsor the Hoopfest Slam Dunk Contest at Nike Center Court. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga University star Robert Sacre’ poses with Kelli Allison of Spokane, during the State Farm Battle in Seattle Autograph session, as her friend, Rebecca Estelle, snaps a picture. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Santa’s Little Helpers may have lost two games, but they posed for a photograph in their jolly seasonal uniforms. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Hoopfest stretches north on Washington over the raging Spokane River. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Geena Ruggeri of the Heavy Petters dribbles the basketball through her legs as she drives hard to the basket. “We’re just awesome,” said her teammate, Courtney Hamberline. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Hoopfest slam dunk judges Nate Robinson of the Oklahoma City Thunder (foreground) and Terrence Williams (left) of the Houston Rockets liked the dunk they just saw during the semifinals of the U.S. Marines Slam Dunk Contest at Nike Center Court. (J. Rayniak)
Hoopfest is just as hard for the spectators as it is for the players. (J. Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
